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Tag: harmony

  • Barack Obama: Singapore’s Racial Integration Has Contributed To Its Success

    Barack Obama: Singapore’s Racial Integration Has Contributed To Its Success

    One of the reasons why Singapore has been so successful is because “it has been able to bring together people who may look different, but they all think of themselves as part of Singapore”, said US President Barack Obama yesterday (June 1).

    “That has to be a strength, not a weakness, but that requires leadership and government being true to those principles,” said Mr Obama, who was speaking to 75 emerging leaders from countries in the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN). The group, aged 18-35, was the first to visit the United States as part of the Young South-east Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Fellowships announced by Mr Obama in November last year.

    Mr Obama, answering a question from an attendee, was calling for an end to the discrimination against the Rohingya in Myanmar, when he noted that one of the reasons for Singapore’s success has been the Republic’s ability to integrate the different races.

    “The one thing I know is that countries that divide themselves on racial or religious lines, they do not succeed,” he stressed. “Each country is different, but there are some rules if you look at development patterns around the world that are pretty consistent, and those are two pretty good rules. Don’t divide yourself on religious and ethnic lines and racial lines, and don’t discriminate against women. If you do those two things, you are not guaranteed success but at least you’re not guaranteed failure.”

    Answering an attendee’s question about economic development in Myanmar, Mr Obama also pointed to Singapore. He noted that businesses know they can find a very skilled workforce here and the rules are “international standard rules, in terms of operations”.

    Mr Obama noted that in the age of the Internet, when companies can be located anywhere, “the most important thing is to find some place where there’s security so there’s no conflict, where there’s rule of law and the people are highly skilled. And if you have those those things, then people will invest”.

    The session lasted for more than an hour, where Mr Obama spoke on topics including America’s relationship with South-east Asia and Anwar Ibrahim’s imprisonment. He also spoke about his “special attachment” to the region.

    “As a boy I lived in Jakarta; my mother spent years working in villages to help women improve their life. So South-east Asia helped to shape who I am and how I see the world,” he said.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Yaacob Ibrahim: Muslim Youths Contributing To Singapore Society

    Yaacob Ibrahim: Muslim Youths Contributing To Singapore Society

    Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim has said Muslim youths in Singapore are contributing constructively to society and that the two self-radicalised individuals are isolated cases.

    Dr Yaacob was responding to reporters on Saturday (May 30) on what can be done to further reach out to Muslim youths following the latest detention of a self-radicalised Singaporean teenager. Another has been arrested for further investigations.

    Dr Yaacob joined 180 Muslim students along the Wakaf Heritage Trail, which is located around the Kampong Glam area. The trail was held by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, or MUIS.

    Wakaf in Singapore is an Islamic charitable endowment, typically in the form of property, which is dedicated by a philanthropist for religious or charitable purposes.

    The trail is aimed at getting students to appreciate the contributions of Muslim philanthropists and the significant assets they have left behind.

    Wakaf Heritage Markers will be developed and mounted on the various wakaf properties to educate the public on these sites.

    MUIS will also be working with National Heritage Board to share information online on the Wakaf Heritage Trail to allow the broader public to understand the heritage behind these places as well.

    A group photo of the participants in the Wakaf Heritage Trail before flag-off. (Photo: CNA/Chan Luo Er)

    CONTRIBUTING TO CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES

    Dr Yaacob said the trail is an important exercise to remind youths of the origin and purpose of Islam. He said: “While we celebrate our heritage, while we celebrate our assets and our legacy, the message is this is what you can do as a Muslim to continue that legacy here in Singapore because at the end of the day, that is what Islam is all about.”

    “A lot of Muslim groups are actually contributing to constructive activities, helping the poor, helping our flood victims in Malaysia, bringing food to the poor and the needy. By and large, the Malay Muslim youths are on the right track but you have these isolated individuals that we need to try to bring them to the mainstream.”

    Dr Yaacob added that the community should continue to lead their lives while remaining vigilant. “If supposing there are some changes in your child, you must understand why those changes are taking place. I think that is normal,” he said.

    “If tomorrow your child shows some rebellious behaviour you would want to know what is happening. If tomorrow he becomes slightly more religious, you would want to know what is going on. So I think that sense of vigilance is needed by parents, by friends, by school administrators.”

    PLATFORM FOR YOUTHS

    Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of The Salvation Army’s Family Hub, Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob said that youths need a platform where they feel comfortable asking questions over content they have accessed over the internet, especially with ISIS being active on the internet.

    “They (ISIS) have been putting up on the internet a lot of content, which are very very persuasive, very seductive and so we need to have a counter-narrative that these ideologies are wrong and that our young should be aware that they are being targeted,” she said.

    Second Minister for Home Affairs S Iswaran, who was at the 14th International Tamil Internet Conference at SIM University, said that recent experience reinforces the point that the terror threat is everywhere due to the prevalence of the internet and that self-radicalisation is a challenge that Singapore has to face as a nation.

    “The actions are of particular individuals who are susceptible to wrong teachings and wrong ideals but the consequences of those actions which are wrongful will have adverse effects on all of us as a society, regardless of the communities we belong to, regardless of our religious background,” said Mr Iswaran.

    “We should not think of this as in some way stereotyping some community; it is a general challenge that we all face.”

    Mr Iswaran added that the nature of the threat requires everyone in the community to be vigilant and step forward to take appropriate action when they see something that is of concern.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Divide In Malaysia Laid Bare By Cross Furore

    Divide In Malaysia Laid Bare By Cross Furore

    KUALA LUMPUR — The protest by a group of Muslims in Selangor who called for a new church to remove a cross outside its premises has drawn a strong reaction from a broad coalition of moderate Muslims and politicians, exposing the rift between ultra and moderate Muslims and prompting the Cabinet to announce that the police will launch an investigation.

    Malaysian society has become increasingly polarised along religious lines in the past few years. In particular, the growing politicisation of religion means that, going forward, one can expect pushback from the majority of Malays, who are moderate in orientation, analysts told TODAY.

    In announcing the Cabinet’s decision yesterday, an under-pressure Prime Minister Najib Razak said the Sedition Act or other existing laws could be used against the protesters. “The protesters should have discussed with the church, instead of taking actions that have created worry and restlessness in this multiracial country,” he said.

    “The people must abide by the country’s laws and practise respect of other religions, as enshrined in the Constitution. We also need to have an attitude of tolerance and mutual respect among communities of different religions,” Mr Najib added.

    The protesters were roundly criticised since the incident, notably by a group of former Malay high-ranking civil servants, also known as the G25. “Firm action must be taken against the ignorant, intolerant Muslims who protested for the removal of a cross from a church,” said the G25 yesterday.

    The moderate group added that the protesters’ actions were an embarrassment to Islam and proved that they were ignorant of the tenets of their own faith, which preached tolerance and respect for all religions.

    The Muslims Professional Forum also denounced the protest, saying that this “mindless act of hatred and incitement against another religion’s place of worship has no place in Islam and deserves unreserved condemnation”.

    Dr Ooi Kee Beng of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, noted that the protest was a “serious provocation”.

    “Since race has slowly become ineffective as a way of polarising society to strengthen certain parties’ hold on power, it has over the last few years become the fashion to use religion as the means by which the division of Malaysian society can continue,” he told TODAY. “What this cynical process means is that an attack on the idea of cultural pluralism and tolerance has been sustained for several years … At some point, Malaysian society, especially the majority of Malays who believe pluralism is the basis of social peace in Malaysia, has to push back.”

    On Sunday, about 50 people gathered outside the church to demand the removal of a cross affixed to the building. The protesters reportedly said the presence of a cross in the Muslim-majority area posed a challenge to the religion and could sway the faith of the youth.

    The cross was taken down by church leaders a few hours later.

    Yesterday’s Cabinet decision came after remarks by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Monday that the protest was seditious and that the government would take action. Putrajaya updated and strengthened the Sedition Act this month to crack down on people inciting racial and religious disharmony.

    Police chief Khalid Abu Bakar received a barrage of criticism from both sides of the political divide for his initial reluctance to launch a sedition probe, indicating that there was no element of sedition as the demonstration was not against Christianity.

    From the opposition end, Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general Lim Guan Eng yesterday said that failing to take any action against the protesters would “put an end to any talk of moderation at the international stage” by Mr Najib.

    Mr Henry Benedict Asirvatham, Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) liaison committee deputy chairman for Penang, yesterday said the incident had “put a black stain in our country’s multiracial and multi-religious image”. The MIC is a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional.

    “There is a worrying trend within the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) ruling party to politicise religious issues,” said Dr Mohamed Nawab Mohamed Osman of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

    “UMNO is currently in a weak position and seeks to survive. There are elements within the party who will use racial and religious issues to position themselves. Some extremist political groups have been gaining traction in some segments of society because of how well the Chinese and Indians had effectively organised themselves during the last election. There is fear among the Malays that the Chinese will use the (opposition) Pakatan Rakyat to their benefit, even though there is no Chinese Prime Minister.”

     

    Source:www.todayonline.com

  • Malay Primary School Student Makes Racist Rant Against Chinese

    Malay Primary School Student Makes Racist Rant Against Chinese

    Dear Editors,

    After STOMP reported incident where inconsiderate incense burning cause the fire at Geylang Bahru lift lobby, I saw this netizen Shahrul Pendekk who study in Lakeside Primary School. (Shahrul Pendekkchanged his FB profile to Shahrul Pendeq)

    He make very racist comments about the Singapore Chinese community and call them bastards and pigs. Why he have to make such bad racist comments? What happen to racial harmony?

    Will the authorities do anything about this case? Remember last time when stupid insensitive Chinese make racist comments about our Malay friends, they all get warning from police, the woman even get fired from job.

    Will the police also talk to this boy and give him warning for his racist comments? If never teach him properly when young, when older will become worse?

     


    Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

  • Inter-Racial Marriages In Malaysia Risk Harming “National Harmony”

    Inter-Racial Marriages In Malaysia Risk Harming “National Harmony”

    KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — Marriages between Malaysians of different races risk harming “national harmony”, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said, noting that many such unions have resulted in bitter disputes over the religious statues of the couple’s offspring.

    The Attorney-General noted that apart from these legal battles, such marriages have also led to claims of “racial discrimination”

    The top lawyer added, however, that law reforms meant to solve such problems have yet to be approved.

    He said interracial marriages also created the “new conflict” between civil law and Shariah law on the issues of unilateral conversion of children and child custody disputes where only one spouse converts to Islam.

    “The increasing number of cases has also raised allegations of racial discrimination by the courts and authorities. The anguish to the families cannot be overstated and that is a fact.

    “In this regard, the failure of the converting spouses to resolve the family arrangements prior to conversion and in fact, attempting to use the different jurisdictions of the civil and Syariah courts to their advantage, jeopardizes not only family harmony but potentially national harmony,” the top government lawyer said according to his written speech from the ILKAP National Law Conference 2014 last week.

    Abdul Gani said the problem of enforcing conflicting orders from the civil courts and Shariah courts in such disputes then calls into question the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and police’s integrity, adding that this would hamper their ability to effectively carry out their duties.

    Abdul Gani did not name any examples of such court cases, but there are two high-profile cases that have hit national headlines — the cases of non-Muslim mothers Indira Gandhi and Deepa Subramaniam, where both women’s Muslim convert ex-husbands ran off with their children.

    In both cases, the Muslim convert ex-husbands cited the Shariah court orders granting child custody to them when refusing to comply with the civil court’s child custody orders in favour of their former spouse.

    Despite recovery orders from the Ipoh High Court and Seremban High Court directing the police to act to find and return the abducted children to the non-Muslim mothers, the police have declined to take action and are now seeking the courts’ clarification instead.

    Abdul Gani said proposed amendments to three laws were mooted in 2009 to ensure that matters such as child custody and child maintenance would be decided by the court where the marriage was registered.

    “These amendments, however, remain pending,” he said, without elaborating further.

    He listed down the three laws of Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 and the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993.

    Lawyers have argued that child custody matters for a marriage that was initially between two non-Muslims should be decided by the civil courts even if a spouse later converts to Islam.

    This is because a marriage that started out as a civil union should end or have any related issues ruled upon in the civil courts, instead of the Shariah courts for marriages between two Muslims, the lawyers said.

     

    Source: www.themalaymailonline.com